You may have noticed some posts from our friends at the Strategist on the Cut. They’ll be dropping in every now and again, sharing their expertise on the basics you don’t have time to research and the weird and wonderful things you don’t yet know you need.
Turns out, a lot of my favorite retailers have already launched their Black Friday sales, and they’re all quite good. (But before we get into it, here’s my cheat sheet on how to shop Black Friday, in case you missed it earlier this week.)
If I had to pick just one early Black Friday sale to shop, it would be Nordstrom’s. There are plenty of on-sale options from the usual suspects, like Caslon tees and Madewell jeans, but there are also some surprising deals from brands that rarely go on sale, like Jellycat and Salomon. I’ve added a few of my top picks here, but writer Rachael Griffiths has put together a roundup of over 60 of the best deals from the Nordstrom sale.
There are plenty of other good deals this week, though, Black Friday or otherwise. REI is offering 40 percent off winter puffers; Paravel and Samsonite have well-discounted luggage; Anthropologie and Furbish have stuff for your table setting for up to 70 percent off; and there are a lot of great kids’ toys on sale.
As always, make sure to sign up for the new Strategist Sales Alert newsletter to receive each day’s best deals in your inbox. And if you want even more deals, sign up for our regular email newsletter, which includes deals just for newsletter subscribers.
Patagonia Women’s Silent Down Jacket
REI members can take 20 percent off basically every full-price item with the code WINTER24 through November 25. So now’s a good time to nab this rarely-on-sale Patagonia puffer before that December chill sets in. If you’re not an REI member, the jacket is also 15 percent off at Huckberry (making it just $14 more than it is at REI) — but only through tonight.
REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket - Women's
There are plenty of non-member deals to be found in REI’s winter sale. This even-cheaper down-filled jacket comes in seven colors.
REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket - Men's
The men’s version is the same price and comes in six colors.
REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket - Kids'
And one for kids, which comes in five colors.
The North Face Women’s Fleeski Full-Zip Jacket
This fleece North Face zip-up is available in black and beige, but I’m kind of obsessed with this eggplant color.
Zara Contrast Collar Jacket
And a nice, not-so-heavy jacket from Zara.
Levi’s 315 Shaping Bootcut Jeans
Fashion writer Ambar Pardilla just updated her roundup of the best jeans on sale right now. The Levi’s 315s are the reigning best bootcut in our plus-size jeans guide, with models Felicity Hayward and Yasmin Geurts loyal wearers of the style, and they’re nearly half off right now.
& Other Stories Wide High-Waist Jeans
Normally, I’m not a fan of jeans without front pockets, but these may have changed my mind. They’re a whopping 68 percent off right now, making them just $38. (Note: The full discount will show up at checkout, as all sale items are an extra 25 percent off at & Other Stories.)
Salomon XT-6 Mindful Sneakers - White Pepper / Transparent Yellow / Falcon
Nordstrom’s early Black Friday sale is chock-full of surprisingly nice deals, like this neutral pair of Salomons for 30 percent off.
The Sak Huntley Hobo
The Sak’s spacious tote bag would make a nice gift for a discerning mother-in-law. It’s half off and comes in both leather and suede.
Paravel Weekender
Through Sunday night, take $75 off Paravel orders over $300 when you use our exclusive code STRAT75. We love the Weekender for flying because the strap slips easily onto a carry-on handle.
Aspinal of London Luggage Tags - Set of 2
These luxurious luggage tags make a nice gift for even the hardest-to-shop-for parents or in-laws.
$100 for 2 at Aspinal of London
Samsonite 28-Inch Omni PC Hardside Expandable Luggage
A big ol’ Samsonsite to tote all your Christmas gifts back home for the holidays — right now just over $100.
State Mini Logan Carry-On Suitcase
And a cute and colorful one that’s perfectly kid-size from State.
Shark SmoothStyle Heated Comb & Blow Dryer Brush
You may not be able to spring for the Dyson Airwrap, but this blow-dryer brush will still give you a salon-level blowout.
Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Illuminating Face Primer with Vitamin C
We’re longtime fans of Ole Henriksen’s Banana Bright eye cream, and this primer comes from the same vitamin-C-packed line.
Crockpot Electric Lunch Box
Make lukewarm leftovers a thing of the past. (Junior writer Bella Druckman gave this lunch box to her boyfriend earlier this year.)
Tempur-Adapt Mattress Topper - 3" + Cooling, Queen
The Tempur-Adapt mattress topper is three inches thick and comes with a cooling cover to regulate temperature.
Voluspa XXV Boxed Classic Candle
Writer Dominique Pariso has burned every affordable candle at the drugstore (for science) and named Voluspa, with its nicer packaging and fragrance profiles, the fanciest. It’s a good time to stock up, as plenty are 20 percent off at Nordstrom right now.
Voluspa Pedestal Candle Gift Set
You could dole out one candle per stocking, or gift the whole set to a special someone.
Wooj Wavy Lamp
Wooj’s high-design lamps don’t go on sale too often, and right now they’re up to 25 percent off.
Terrain Dried Amaranth Bunch
Nice for a Thanksgiving table!
Furbish Studio Tablecloth
At Furbish Studio, sale items are an extra 20 percent off with the code SOMUCHSALE. I especially like this festive tablecloth. (Note that discounts vary by pattern.)
Furbish Studio Dish Towels - Set of 2
A set of cheerful dish towels is a pretty foolproof gift for anyone but makes an especially nice host gift.
Furbish Studio Charliss Velvet Lumbar Pillow - Green + Aqua
This fabulous velvet lumbar pillow comes in eight colors: green (linked here), cherry red, lilac, rust, wine, peacock blue, light pink, and aqua.
Jellycat Skeleton Bob Plush Toy
Jellycat fans know that its beloved plushies never go on sale, but I spotted a few Halloween-themed buddies for 25 percent off at Nordstrom.
Squishmallows 8” Plush Mystery Box, 3 Pack
If your kid prefers Squishmallows, this set contains three medium-size mystery plushies.
Jenga
A great stocking stuffer for slightly older kids that’s just $7 right now.
Sarah’s Silks Skytails
Sarah’s Silks’ Black Friday sale has some truly deep discounts — up to 70 percent off! We think these toss-able toys would make excellent birthday-party favors.
Sarah’s Silks Phoebe Advent Calendar, Illustrated by Phoebe Wahl
But its holiday décor is not to be missed. Just look how cute this reusable Advent calendar is!
Sarah’s Silks Snowy Day Stocking, Illustrated by Gemma Koomen
A $10 silk stocking — unheard of.
Sarah’s Silks Advent Playsilk Illustrated by Phoebe Wahl
I might buy this just to hang up on my wall during the holiday season.
Thule Force Rooftop Cargo Box
And, finally, a heavy-duty roof box for the upcoming holiday road trip.
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
